Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard
We've all heard this one before. However, the show Naruto does an exquisite job of displaying this lesson. Rock Lee, who is a ninja that is incapable of wielding "chakra" — which is this energy that allows you to perform certain powers/techniques — is at a huge disadvantage when compared to his classmates. This means he's only able to combat physically and is pretty much just an ordinary human. However, he's always pushing himself to the limit. One of his most famous quotes is "If I can't do 400 push-ups, I'll hit the dummy 800 times! If I can't hit the dummy 800 times, I'll do 2000 jump ropes!" He ends up being one of the strongest ninjas in his village due to his ability to work harder than everyone around him.
Justice breeds revenge
This was easily one of the most impactful things I took away from this show. To give some context, the antagonist is trying to establish world peace, however in his own way. His method of doing things would put every human being into an infinite dream where their reality is perfectly suited for them. His way of thinking is that it is impossible to achieve a perfect piece in such a cursed world and that the only way is to provide a false reality. Easily one of my favorite quotes goes as follows
"We both want the same thing. We both want the peace Jiraiya spoke of. You and I are no different...Everyone feels the pain of loss the same. We both know that pain. You are working for your justice and me for mine. We are just ordinary people driven to revenge in the name of justice. But if revenge is called justice, then that justice breeds yet more revenge. And becomes a chain of hatred. Living within it, aware of the past, predicting the future. That is what it means to know the history. We cannot help but know that people cannot understand each other. The world of ninjas is ruled by hatred."
It's sort of like Avengers where Thanos has his plan of "saving" the universe by killing off half the population. Everyone has their own sense of justice, but as long as there's not one uniting everyone, it's only going to breed revenge. In the picture above, the little brothers of me and my best friend won the lacrosse state championship the year after we lost. Man, vengeance tastes good.
Never, and I mean never, give up
This one may seem super cliche, but it's one that has to be reiterated. In the context of this show, Naruto- who is the protagonist- is rejected by his entire village as a kid due to a demon spirit sealed inside of him. His lifelong dream is to become Hokage, which is essentially the strongest ninja that watches and protects the village. However, he is literally hated by everyone. He has absolutely no friends and his family is completely dead. Nobody has any hope for him...other than himself. No matter how many times he falls to the ground, he always gets back up. Naruto won't let anything get in the way of his dream of becoming Hokage. And guess what...he eventually achieves his dream. This just goes to show that it doesn't matter if anyone believes in you, as long as you believe in yourself, you can make your dreams come true.
5 Respectful And Empowering Ways To Handle Rejection
Not everyone will like you, but not everyone has to.
You work hard, you do the right thing, and the inevitable happens. Someone comes along and begins to give you a backhanded compliment, or if you have the misfortune, a backhanded comment. You are left with a bad taste in your mouth and your day starts to turn sour. When people belittle you and your efforts, here are five respectful and empowering ways to sweeten those moments of rejection.
1. Never give someone a reason to not like you.
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People will say what they want and think what they want, no matter the subject or person of choice. It will not matter who you are or what you do, someone or another manages to pay you their two cents. You have to remember, you did not give them reasons to justify their words or actions towards you. These people who exhibit unwarranted thoughts about you are just another drop in the ocean. They do not define your good intentions or self-worth. They are not for you and you need not place any investigation or worry into the mystery of why they do not like you. You do not have to reason with them any further. Simply look forward to the people who care to be curious and open-minded about you.
2. Kill them with kindness.
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The dead push up daisies, but you plant the seed. Some people will smile proudly knowing they have said something cruel or disheartening to get a rise out of you but look at this as an opportunity. Every moment is a chance for you to choose how you react. Ten percent of life is what happens to you, it is out of your control. Ninety percent of life is what you do about it. Use your words to encourage, not discourage, civil discourse. Say what matters and say it with an honest purpose. State your case and let them respond how they will; you cannot control others, but you can control yourself. Be a good example others have yet to show themselves.
3. Turn the "No's" into a "Yes."
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The poet Sylvia Plath had this to say about rejection: "I love my rejection slips. They show me I try." She was talking about the process of writing literary submissions for publication, but her attitude still stands. This is the mindset it takes to find the success you want out of life. Despite all the people that deny you and your work, there are people that see potential and promise in you. It does not matter how many people say "No" to you. What does matter is the number of times you can get back to work and look forward to that one "Yes." You are working for the "Yes's" in your life. Forget the dream-killers and eye-rollers, they lack the hope and drive you have in what you do. They do not do what you do and do not do it like you do. For every "No" there is a "Yes."
4. Let your work speak for you.
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Sometimes no matter how endearing your elevator pitch sounds or how carefully crafted your resume is, people still find fault where there might not even be any. Your accomplishments are your own and that is something to take pride in. Of course, the right amount of pride separates you from the rest and for the better. Pride and confidence must not become virtues or vices that exceed who you are. The work you put out is an extension of who you are and no one can take that away from you. Work speaks for itself and yourself best, so focus on your goals and let your results stand in for your words people did not value. Your best is rarely seen at the moment of inspiration, usually after the final stroke of the brush has wet the canvas. It is your goal to show that stalwart work ethic in good times and in bad.
5. Your process will protect you.
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Keep working. Rule out the distractions and the doubts, the fears, and the flippant fools. Know that your process will save you in trying times. Work against all odds. At some point, things turn even and add up, but you have to be dedicated and diligent. Your sights are seen only through your eyes and your need is to show others what you see. Until then, your skill, your talent, will be honed with consistency. Show up to your work even when you have not been hit with inspiration. The Kodak moment will present itself through your process. Due diligence is the price of success. Eyes on the prize and nose to the grindstone. No one knows your work better than you.
Be the trampoline that bends the will of gravity-like rejection long enough until you can fly.